Turret head



March 20, 1956y F. scHwAB v 2,738,691

TURRET HEAD Filed Nov. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l FR/EDR/ c H Sc HAJA B F. scHwAB March 20, 1956 TURRET HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1953 1N Ve'm'og: FR/EpmcH ScHwA 6X' United States Patent TURRET HEAD Friedrich Schwab, -Stuttgart-Riedenberg, Germany Applieation November 17, 1953, Serial No. 392,722 Claims priority, application Germany'Novemb'e'r`18,4 1952 6 Claims. (Cl. 7'7-25) The present invention' relates to improvements `in tur- 'ret heads, and more particularly rto a' turret head fora drill press or similarmachine 'consisting of an' .upper section'orthonsing to' beiitted to the spindle of 'the machine and a lower section carrying .the tool heads androtatable 'inlor on the upper section about an axis'whichis inclined relativeto'the machine spindle.

` Whereas'the knownturret heads of the above mentioned type have the disadvantage that the toolfspin'dles `-i'n'thevarious tool heads canonly run -at one'and the same "speed, isthe principal object of the present -invention todevise a turrethead fora drill 4press or tsimilar'machine, the individual tool-heads of which may bet'lriven at-different speeds without 'requiring' any adjustment of thenra'chne spindle and Without requiring the timei-'and effort 'usually needed for such adjustment. Thusjthe iin vention' 4permits the use of tools in the same turret head ycnr-even` in the same tool* head `which requirediifereht `speeds -of operation, such as, for example, drills of various 1 diameters, reamers, taps, countersinks, andrthelike.

Another object of theinvention'is' todevise `aturret head -wherein `thetool heads are mounted soas to befeasily secured thereto or removed therefrom, so that :either :tool heads with or without a built-in speed changinglear maylbefused'ltherein.

A lfeature `oi the `invention for carrying out ithe above `objects consists in providing the tool :heads -witha shell- ;li-kecasing `wherein a plurality yof Work spindlesmay -be `mounted. .so .as to be either Vdirect-ly connected-tothe :driving-spindle or through an intermediate speed changing .-,gean

Another feature Yof the .invention forusing `af'variety ASoi different vtools in thesame `tool headl consists-inpro- ".viding-.thesame with a multispeedgearfso-as to permitthe work spindle to beadjusted-to .different speeds.

`A further feature of the invention resides .inl a very simple-.and inexpensivedesign .of .the turret. head wherein .thevlower part4 thereof .may .consist of. asubStantially .at v@plate @and socketthereinA forreceiving .the tool heads.

More;specically,.it is a feature .of the 'invention Lto 4.Into- .vide .a .turret head, `thelower ,part of whichcan'be "ro- `ftatetfhy-,the drivespindle tin a very simple manner by con- -necting,.it-to .the spindle by means oty a suitableV gear `such asgfor example,4 a fct'ion gear lprovided with'a suitable .clutch j 'Suche design of the turrefhead and the'driving 4.mechanism .ofthe lower part thereof ,permitssuch'jpart .taheeasily exchangedfr another ofa diierent'kind and Within diierent number of sockets for receiving'thetool heads. l

"jto'desi'gn 'fthe said lower part Yofthe Aturret#headfs'o@as om; @snapper part thereonifor `examp1e;by tmeanscof Hnotherh'eat'urelof theinventionisy providedsiorf-the -jipurposeoffantomatically :adjusting-:theitoolfjheads t0 their ipropemtpositionffcoaxial-ly :with 'the a drive 1 spind1en-before amig-.connected the'reto., 1and `it preferably consists of a ereenteringl.an'echanismy ffor -the Y :mentioned clutch.

2,738,691 Patented Mar. 20, 1956 5 vthe invention provides within the drive spindle of the turret head a suitable acceleratingshaft which projects beyondv the clutch part of the drivespindle of the 4turret head and is non-rotatable relative thereto but slidable in axial direction thereof against the action of a spring, T hus,

when' the drive spindle is lowered, the projecting .end Lof the resilient.. accelerating shaft abuts against Athe clutch part of .the work spindle and, by such frictionalengtge ment, propels and accelerates the same 'liniil .both spindles 'are running synchronouslywhen'the two parts o f the clutch 'are finally permitted to engage. Consequently; Ihe

engagement of the clutch is immediately positive, quiet, smooth, and without jarring.

Another feature of the invention consists in' providing asuitable 'locking mechanism intermediate ,the upper. and

lower 'sections of the turret head for retaining the. lower sectionin a position in which the centering mechanism of 4theclutch automatically adjusts the work .spindle to its Vproper 'position coaxially with the `drive spindle. iFor this purpose,`the 'locking mechanism according to the inggvention'roughly consists of a spring actuated lever provdedinfhe 'upper -section of the Aturret head which 'cooperates with a suitable stop on the lower section,'a `stop releasingI grooveunderneath such stop, anda second stop ata-he end of suchy groove.

t 0 Fort-her objects, vfeatures, and advantages of the invenlt-io-lrwill appear from :the follov'ving detailed description y"of vCinepreferred embodiment thereof and theappe`nded `tlrawing`s,=in which *Fig I shows a vertical section through a turret head -according'vto the invention;

Fig. 2 lshows a section through the 'locking mechanism `-taken along1 line )LI-II of Fig. 1;

2li-ig; '5I shows 4the same section aft-er the engagement lof the loekinglever; A

1"Fig14 shows `a fractional verticalsectionthrough a 1 `modiiedude's-gn of the' upper vsection of the turret ihead andthe .accelerating shaft;

` 5 showsa zsection through avtool :head provided favithafspeed changing gear; while Fig. tshows asimilar section Athrough a tool headfrwithv.out azgear.

"Reierningy to Fig. 1l, :the turret head consists fof` anzupper r' sect-ion. 1 forming acasing which is preferablyrolinected "tto l;the s'pindlesleeve 2 4.ofi-'the drill press .or similar mazhine lso as to vhe :easily removedgtherefrom., .fhecmain i-spindle 3 ,of--thexnachinehas mounted thereon -a- .driving yfor centering-Shah 24, Slhe lower eylindrieallipartofrfthe shaft 4 carries a compression spring Stand ai fdriving 'felenljb which -is longi-tndinally slidablepn: the Shaft 4 rand fseeuredeagainst rotation lby a key 7. The-casing` 1 551.21150 has. pivotal-ly mounted-therein a control leverf..,8,';one

fhiiurcated'. end of A.which ,engages .with the 'lower :surface inf-'ta shoulder. on the driving e1ement.6`,-while lthe-.other y.lend,thereof rests against the :lower end of .a tripping pin =f9-whichscarries .a compression spring` 10. The casing. 1

603 has further pivotally mounted therein a lockinglever 11,

goneVV endfof lwhich-isA acted .upon Aby .the .control .1ev er..8, @while theothernend, which preferably has .a small- 4nose r(thereon, isacted upon by acompression spring 1 2which .isheldrand-may be tightened hva screw 13.

35 l The lowerportion of the casing 1-.isof conical `shape ....andopentoward .the bottom into which a platelike `cover 15 is'ifittedfrom' below and held therein by a suitable -l',etainingri n.g. 14, ,such as a bayonet ,ring or-the like, so 'wastofheafreelyrotatable relative to the casing 1. A drivs ,entlrynmounted at the .center ofthe cover plate 15 and earriesatsits upper .end a ,friction disk-18 .and, interme- 3 diate the driving bolt 16 and the cover plate 15, a clutch 19 which may consist, for example, of suitable cam surfaces or clutch teeth.

The cover plate also has xedly secured thereto a plurality of sockets 20 which are axially inclined relative to the plate 15, the degree of such inclination depending upon the particular angle of the plate 15 relative to the axis of the main driving spindle 3 of the machine, so that, when the plate 15 is turned a sucient amount, one or the othersocket will assume the position shown at the right side of Fig. l, that is, coaxially with the main spindle 3 and the driving shaft 4. Each of the sockets 2t) is provided with a stop 21 for the locking lever 1'1, and directly below such stop 21 each socket 20 has an aperture or groove 22. As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the contacting surfaces of both the lever 11 and the stop 21 are inclined so as to permit easier sliding along each other, and the lower edge of the stop 21 is spaced from the groove 22 to permit the lever 11 to slide underneath stop 21 when the lower -section 15 of the turret head is rotated, until finally it cornes to rest against the end wall 22 of the groove 22. Also, as to be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the length of the groove 22 is such that, when 'the lever 11 abuts against the end wall 22 thereof, it is fully below and behind the stop 21, thus permitting it to pivot upwardly and out of the groove 22 when the lower section 15 is rotated to move the next socket underneath the drive spindle 3 and the driving element 6, as will be later described in detail. i

The tool head illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided vwith a planetary speed increasing gear and consists of a casing 23 in which a driven shaft 24 with a self-centering head 24', which is adapted to engage with, and to be locked to, the lower end 6 of the driving shaft 6, is mounted by means of ball bearing 26. The driven shaft 24 carries an internal gear 25 which engages with intermediate gears 27 and 28. These gears, in turn, engage with a pinion 29 which is xedly mounted on a work spindle 30 which is supported by ball bearings 31 and 32 in the casing 23. The entire tool head is tted and locked within one of the sockets 20 by means of a screw 33 connecting the socket with the casing 23, while the parts contained within the casing 23 are secured therein by two nuts 34 and 35 which are threaded within the lower end of the casing 23 and on the work spindle 30, respectively. A suitable cap nut 36 or the like on the lower end of the spindle 30 serves to secure the respective tool therein.

In the modified form of the driving and centering shaft 4, as shown in Fig. 4, the latter is mounted and centered within the casing 1 by means of a bearing 37. A rod 3S f.

is mounted within a central bore of the shaft 4 so as to be slidable in axial direction thereof against the action of a spring 39, and locked against rotation by a pin 40 which slides in a slot 41 provided in the driving and centering shaft 4.

Fig. 5 illustrates a tool head according to another embodiment of the invention, which is provided with a speed reduction gear. For this purpose, the driven shaft 24 with the self-centering head 24' thereon has fixed thereon a pinion 42 which engages with gears 43 and 44 which, in turn, engage with an internal gear 45 which is fixed on the tool spindle 30. The driven shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 46, while the tool spindle 30 is mounted by roller bearings 31 and 32 secured to the casing 23 and spaced apart by a spacing ring 47. The various elements of the tool head are secured within the casing 23 in a similar manner as shown in Fig. l by nuts 34 and 35, and the tool spindle 30 is likewise provided with a cap nut or the like for securing the respective tool therein.

Fig. 6 illustrates a tool head according to still another embodiment of the invention, wherein the driving shaft 24 with the self-centering head 24' thereon is directly connected with the tool spindle 30 by means of an intermediate part 48 and is locked thereto by a pin 49. Both parts are again rotatably supported by ball bearings 26 and 32 within the casing 23 and secured by nuts 34 and 35.

In operation, the tool heads according to the invention are rst inserted according to their particular use and order of use into the sockets 20 in the lower part 15 of the turret head and there locked in position by screws 33. Although any number of tool heads may be inserted and used, depending only upon the number of sockets provided in the lower part 15, generally speaking, three to six sockets 20 will suice for most purposes. According to the invention, it is not only possible to exchange the individual tool heads whenever desired and to insert others in the respective socket-s 2t), but the lower section 15 may be easily exchanged for one of a different type, that is, for example, with a larger or smaller number or a different kind or size of sockets. For this purpose, the retaining ring 14 is preferably secured to the casing 1 by a quickchange coupling, such as, for example, a bayonet lock, a socket lock, or the like, so as to permit a quick exchange of one lower section 15 for another.

After inserting and locking the respective tool heads in the wanted order of succession to the lower section 1S, the upper section 1 of the turret head is placed upon the spindle sleeve 2 of a drill press or similar machine and secured thereto by suitable clamping means not shown in the drawings, the driving or centering shaft 4 then being inserted in the machine spindle 3 and held therein by a standard cone or similar means.

When the drill press or similar machine is switched on, the main spindle 3 first rotates the driving and centering spindle 4 and the driving element. When lowering the main spindle 3 together with the spindle sleeve 2 and the casing 2 thereon, the lower centering part 6' of the driving element 6 connects with the corresponding centering head 24 of the driven shaft 24 so as to center the work spindle 30 relative thereto and to drive the same by means of one or more interlocking cams or teeth 50 and 51 on the lower and upper surfaces of the parts 6 and 24', respectively.

If the modified form of the driving and centering shaft 4, as shown in Fig. 4, is applied and the machine spindle 3 is lowered, lirst the end portion 52 of the accelerating rod 38, which is preferably of a conical shape, is forced 7 into a corresponding inner cone 53 on the driven shaft 24 and, through the friction developed between the surfaces of these parts, transmits the rotary movementthereto.- When the machine spindle 3 is further lowered, the rod 38 is more and more deeply forced into the bore in the driving shaft 4 against the action of the spring 39 until finally the driving cams or teeth 50 and 51 engage each other without noise.

After completing one operation and during the upward movement of the spindle sleeve 2 together with the re- 'y spective tool head, the upwardly projecting end of the tripping pin 9 presses against a portion 9' of the drill press or similar machine, or against a suitable stop thereon, and is thereby depressed against the action of the compression spring 10 so as to act upon the control lever 8 to lift the driving element 6. Hereby the spring 5 is compressed and the interlocking elements 50 and 51 on the parts 6 and 24', respectively, are disengaged so that the work spindle 30 is no longer connected to and driven by the main spindle 3. Simultaneously herewith, the control lever 8 acts upon one end of the locking lever 11 so as to lift the other end thereof out of the respective notch or groove 22 which is provided in the lower section 15 diametrically opposite to each work spindle 30. This moves the locking lever 11 behind the stop 21 and above the groove 22. Simultaneously herewith, the surface 54 on the driving element 6 slides along the face of the friction disk 18 so as to rotate the same, thereby also rotating the lower section 15 together with the tool heads by means of the clutch 19 until the locking lever 11 abuts against .naissent ythe next Vstop .21 thusrnreve'nting angurtherfrotary. movel ment o'f the llowerfsectionlS untilthexspindlelsleevej is again lowered. Thus, asllong. a's'lthe'lltin'gilevei:111rests t against "the stop"21,`.the.friction .diskflamnly-'idles since .the clutch'19f is. released.

'When the spindle ,sleevel moves..downwardly together `with the .upper section 1 of Y.the turretihead,` .the compression spring .10. 'forces .thertripping pin .39 V.upwardly .andlthe ll'atter `thustfrees the.' lockingalever .r11 .which through 1111 f action .oftthe vcompression.spring.12.drops. into the, groove V'22.'.below .thefstQpI.21.. JSimultaneouslynherewith, the

Ylower section...15-;of..thet.turret headgproceeds `to .move

until ther next .work spiudle.isbelowtandtcoaxially with the =mac`hine...spindle:3.. 'l'he. .rotaryflmovement' of the l flower :section .15 .together with` .the tooleheadsfris .limited byfthenose ofthe lockingdevenlleomingto rest` against .theaend .wall-,22-..of` the( groove 22. f .As soon .as the vcon- .trollevertS.hasicornpletelyfreed-the driving element 6,.the compressionspringypushes rthe latter-.overnam upon .the

--head 124. l .ofy the ,driven shaft. 24 onthe i tool head ,andi-.thus .t transmitsthetdrivingmotionitoathework,spindlea vFhis .-fplocedure yas i above idescrihed is .repeated 'at every i change .othefwork cycle.

- :The lower-section 15..of(the turretwheadtogether ;wth

i Athe .tool .theads A. may, :if -.desired,also. be-fturnedi i manually.

Eorthispurpose, however, the tripping pin v9.--mustfirstbe depressed .tosdisengageatheiuoseitofatheloekingzlever `11 .from the `gremita-i422.

.Il-"hus,@theentireaworkteycle.ofathe turrettheadtaccording fto thefinvention iseaswfollows:

i 1 -When Athe 1.dri-ver.spindlefv andrthef turretl casing -.area in raised positionffthe! lower-isectioni isi-tturned-.by thetfrietion t disk t1'8 untiljthe lever sllhits'f on the =stop'-21- which, .despite `the Iinclined :surfaces tot` doven-11. `aand. stopt .21 randa the yfspring 12,@.oannotttilt downwardly becausetofgpin-.Vabut-' lower section`15'to rotate a smallldistance uiitlllever 11 `hits`the end wll`22`" o'fgrooveiZZ. Such rotary movement from the stop 21 to the end wall 22 of groove 22 permits centering of the tool head relative to the drive spindle by the conical surfaces 6' and 24'. As soon as the clutch 50, 51 is engaged, disk 18 is disengaged from the surface 54, while the lever 11 on the end wall 22 of the groove 22 locks the lower section 15 against further movement.

3. When the drive spindle with the, turret casing are again raised, pin 9 abuts on the machine part 9', lever 8 pulls the driving element 6 upwardly and out of engagement with clutch part 24'. Simultaneously, disk 18 starts riding on the surface 54 of the driving element 6 and to be driven thereby and, lever 11 is lifted out of groove 22, permitting the lower section 15 to rotate until lever 11 hits on the next stop 21.

While I have described my invention with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that my invention is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: h

l. In combination with a drill press or similar machine having a rotating spindle and means for reciprocatingsaid spindle in axial direction thereof, a turret head comprising an upper section forming a housing, means for connectmg said housing to said spindle so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto, a lower section, means for rotatably mounting said lower section on said housing at an inclined angle relative to the axis of said spindle, means connected to ,said ,spindle for .turningfsaid lower section, means for 'rotatably mounting afplurlity 'ofn tools inl said lowersseo tion, means 'for alternately 'connecting one' Avofssaidftool ...mounting means to Vsaid. spindle when'said lower'section is turned 1 to a 4 po's'ition wherein saidtooljmounting vmeans 'is located in axialdirecti'on of saidj spindle," means v`'for automatically'locking and' unlocking'said lower -section 'comprising a.stop"on;tl1e lower sectionfor each of'isalid tool mounting means, aflevert-'mounted on said housing .and adapted. to engage-onebf said stops when'said' spindle is in a raised @position and 'disengaged `from saidxtool .mounting means, saidlever adapted"tdbepivoted'by sid lspindle when saidspindleds'ilowered so asto disengage said'lever from said stop to permit said :lower-section to rotate until it arrives in saidposition coaxially with said spindle, and asecond stop, said leveradaptedto engage said second stop when said.lower section hasarrive'dfin said position and said spindle has been 'engagedV with said tool mountingmeansso asto drive the same.

2. In combination with a drillpress'or vsimilar machine having a rotating spindle and means forreciprocating said spindle in axial direction thereof, a turret head. comprising an upper section.' forming a.housing, meansforconnecting said housing to said "spindle so .as vto be non `rotatable relative thereto, a AlowerA section, means 'for rotatably mounting said lower section on said housinglat an inclined angle relative to the axis of said spindle,

means connected to said spindle for turning said lower.sec

.'tion,'means for rotatably'mounting aplurality .of"tols is said lowersection, `means "foixalternately 'connecting one of said 'toolfmounting means to said lspin'dlewhen said lower sectionis' turned to a position whereinsaid" t'ool mounting means is located in. axial direction of said spindle', ,meanslfor,automatically'locking and unlockingsaid lower'section comprising astop.on the'lower sectiotffor each of saidtool mounting means, a levermou'ntedion ,said housing and adapted-to engage one of said .stops when said spindle is in `a raised'position Vand disengaged from said tool mounting means, sai`d`lever `adapted"toibe l pivoted .by said spindle when said spindle" is 'loweredrso asto disengage said lever from said-stop to.,.perniit`.`said vv`lower section to rotate until'it larrivesin"saidfposition coaxially-ufi'thv said spindle, and a second Stop; said lever adapted 'to .engage said .secon'dv stop when said 'lower sectionlihas arrived lin said 1:position and'sid spiiidlehas been engaged with Lisaid .tool mounting means :so as j to drive the same, and means n'forauton'iatically :disconnecting c said turning 'means 'forthe` lower section from said spindle'when said spindleisengaged with 'sid toolmounting means.

3. In combination with a drill press or similar machine having a rotating spindle and means for reciprocating said spindle in axial direction thereof, a turret head comprising an upper section forming a housing, means for connecting said housing to said spindle so as to be nonrotatable relative thereto, a lower section, means for rotatably mounting said lower section on said housing at an inclined angle relative to the axis of said spindle, means connected to said spindle for turning said lower section, means for rotatably mounting a plurality of tools in said lower section, means for alternately connecting one of said tool mounting means to said spindle when said lower section is turned to a position wherein said tool mounting means is located in axial direction of said spindle, means for automatically locking and unlocking said lower section comprising a stop on the lower section for each of said tool mounting means, a lever mounted on said housing and adapted to engage one of said stops when said spindle is in a raised position and disengaged from said tool mounting means, said lever adapted to be pivoted by said spindle when said spindle is lowered so as to disengage said lever fromsaid stop to permit said lower section to rotate until it arrives in said position coaxially with said spindle, and a second stop, said lever adapted to engage said second stop when said lower section has arrived in said position and said spindle has been engaged with said tool mounting means so as to drive the same,

means for automatically disconnecting said turning means 1 for the lower section from said spindle when said spindle y necting said housing to said spindle so as to be nonrotatable relative thereto, a lower section, means for rotatably mounting said lower section on said housing at an inclined angle relative to the axis of said spindle, means connected to said spindle for turning said lower section, means for rotatably mounting a plurality of tools in said lower section, means for alternately connecting one of said tool mounting means to said spindle when said lower section is turned to a position wherein said tool mounting means is located in axial direction of said spindle, means for automatically locking and unlocking said lower section comprising a stop on the lower section for each of said tool mounting means, a member mounted on said housing and adapted to engage one of said stops when said spindle is in a raised position and disengaged from said tool mounting means, said member adapted to bc moved by said spindle when said spindle is lowered so as to disengage said member from said stop to permit said lower section to turn until it arrives in said position coaxially with said spindle, and a second stop, said member adapted to engage said second stop when said lower section has arrived in said position and said spindle has been engaged with said tool mounting means so as to drive the same.

5. In combination machine having a rotating spindle and means for reciprocating said spindle in axial direction thereof, a turret head comprising an upper section forming a housing, means for connecting said housing to said spindle so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto, a lower section, means for rotatably mounting said lower section on said housing, means for turning said lower section, means for mounting a plurality of tools in said lower section, means for alternately connecting one of said tool mounting means to said spindle when said lower section is turned to a position wherein said tool mounting means is located in axial direction of said spindle, means for automatically locking and unlocking said lower section comprising a stop on the lower section for each of said tool mounting means, a member mounted on said housing and adapted to engage one of said stops when said spindle is in a raised position and disengaged from said tool mounting means, said member adapted to be moved by said spindle when said spindle is lowered so as to disengage said member from said stop to permit said lower section to turn until it arrives in said position coaxially with said spindle, and a second stop, said member adapted to engage said second stop when said lower section has arrived in said position and said spindle has been engaged with said tool mounting means so as to drive the same.

6. In combination machine having a drive spindle and means for reciprocating said spindle in axial direction thereof, a turret head comprising an upper section forming a housing, means for connecting said housing to said spindle so as to be non-rotatable relative thereto, a supporting means, means for rotatably mounting said supporting means on said housing, means for turning said supporting means, means for mounting a plurality of tools in said supporting means, means for alternately connect-y ing one of said tool mounting means to said spindle when said supporting means is turned to a position wherein said tool mounting means is located in axial direction of said spindle, means for automatically locking and unlocking said supporting means comprising a stop on the supporting means for each of said tool mounting means, a member mounted on said housing and adapted to engage one of said stops when said spindle is in one axially shifted position and disengaged from Said tool mounting means, said member adapted to be moved by said spindle when said spindle is in another axially shifted position so as to disengage said member from said stop to permit said supporting means to turn until it arrives in said position coaxially with said spindle, and a second stop, said member adapted to engage said second stop when said supporting means has arrived in said position and said spindle has been engaged with said tool mounting means so as to drive the same.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,598 Smith Feb. 23, 1886 2,491,859 Hijmans Dec. 20, 1949 2,544,617 Shankweiler Mar. 6, 1951 am, v 

